Collapsible chest



` i March 24, 1931. H B.. FERGUSQN 1,797,681

COLLAPS IBLE CHEST Filed Feb. 19. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,7 ufenior.-

HEMAN B FERGusoN H, B. FERGUSON COLLAFSTBLE March 24, 1931.

CHEST Filed Feb.

19, 1930 Lil Sheets-Sheet IIIIII Ilmrilll HERMM Fwwsom Patented Mar. 24, 1931 Y UNITED STATES PATsNToFFlcE HERMAN B. FERGUSON, F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA COLLAPSIBLE CHEST i Application filed February 19, 1930. Serial No. 499,531.

This invention relates generally to chests, to render the chest moth-proof yand watertrunks and other such containers for storing proof. sundry articles and more particularly to Still another and important object of the improvements in the construction thereof invention is the provision of a 'chest which I whereby to render the same readily collapsimay be readily collapsed and as readily set 55 ble when not in use. 'up without the use of any tools or securing The chest as constructed in accordance devices whatsoever. with the present invention is intended to Further objects and advantages of the intake the place of or at least supplement the vention will appear more fully hereinafter.

usual trunk as well as that type of container In its preferred form the invention consists 60 known more or less generally asa cedarcliest substantially in the combination, construcwithin which are adapted to be stored varition, location and relative arrangement of ous articles, such as wearing apparel, woolpartsall as Will be described in greater deens, linens and the like. Not only are these tail hereinafter, as shown in the accompanychests and trunks ordinarily bulky, heavy ing drawings. and as finally pointed out in 65 and relatively expensive but they also occupy the appended claims. In the `said accomconsiderable ioor space even when empty. panynrel drawings 4 In the present days of small apartments and Figure l is a View in perspective of the -homes the fact that these chests occupy so collapsible chest constructed in accordance much floor space even when not in use oil'ers with the present invention and showing the 70 a serious problem and accordingly their use saine as it appears in use; in quarters of limited space has been of neces- Figure 2 is a similar vieW showing the cover sity greatly curtailed with theresult that flap of the outer fabric casing in raised or.

A the modern housekeeper has found it increasopen position;

ingly diliicult to provide ample storage space t Figure 3 is a view in perspective showing 75 in the home during certain seasons of the the interior foldable structure expanded into year. the shape of a box;

lt is among the aims of the present inven- Figure 4 is aside elevational view of the tion to overcome the aforementioned vdifstructure shown in Figure 3 when folded upon culties by providing a collapsible type of itself; 80

storage chest which may be collapsed during Figure 5 is an edge view of the folded structhe period of its non-use and sopermit it to ture shown in Figure 4; be stored away until that time when it is Figure 6 is a vertical cross-sectional view again placed in use. Y of this folded structure taken on the line 6 6 A further aim or object of the invention of Figure 4; 85 is to provide a collapsible chest of such na- Figure( isa transverse cross-sectional View .ture that when collapsed it occupies a veritaken on the line 7*7 of Figure 1; and table minimum of space and so conserves to Figure 8 is a vertical sectional View showthe fullest extent the valuable space of the ing the box-like structure of Figure 3 and modern home. y the fabric casing therefor each in folded con- A still further object of the invention is to dition and disposed Within a suitable envelop provide a chest for storage purpose Which is therefor. not only sturdy and durable in construction Referring now more particularly to the and of ample proportions but which is eX- drawings and particularly to Figures 3 to 6 ceedingly inexpensive to manufacture and inclusive it Will be observed that the chest as therefore cheap in price. constructed in accordance With the present Still another object of the invention is the invention includes an int-erior box-like strucprovision of a collapsible chest constructed ture, designated generally by the reference of relatively light-weight but nevertheless numeral 10. This structure 10 is preferably strong material which may be readily treated formed of relatively stiftl cardboard or corrugated paper and is provided with side and end walls 11 and 12 respectively permanently joined together in any suitable manner. In other words, these side and end walls 11 and 12 are continuous throughout the perimetral extent of the structure. Formed upon the opposed top and bottom edges of the end walls 12 are the top and bottom flaps 1?). Similar flaps 11 are provided at the top and bottom edges of the side walls 11 of the structure. By scoringthe structure 10 along the lines 15 and 16 at the top as Well as at the bottoni thereof the aps 18 and 14 may be disposed respectively in the planes of the end and side walls of which they form parts,\or they may be folded over into the position and relative relation shown in Figure 3.

The structure 10 is further scored along the vertically extending lines 17 which separate the end walls 12 from the side walls 11 thereof. Due to the relative arrangement of parts and by reason of the lilies of scoring 15, 16 and 17, the structure 10 is adapted to be folded upon itself to take the form sliown in Figures 4, 5 and (i wherein it will be observed that one of the side walls 11 and its adjacent side wall 12 lie in a common plane arranged parallel to and in superposed relation with respect to the opposite end wall 12 and its adjacent side wall 10. It Will further be observed that when the structure is so folded upon itself the top and bottom flaps at opposite sides of the box are respectivelyv disposed in the planes of the side Walls 11 to which they are secured, at the same time that the top and bottom end flaps 13 at opposite ends of the box are respectively disposed in the plane ofthe end wall 12 to which they are secured. The result is that a substantially fiat structure is obtained of a width equal to that of the overall depth of one side Wall 11 and the top and bottom flaps 1a secured thereto and of a length equal to the coinbined length of one side wall 11 and one end wall 12.

It will be understood of course that the structure 10 does not in itself form a selfsustained and independently complete box or the like adapted for ordinary use. ln order to give sustenance to the structure and to maintain it in the shape of a box adapted to receive various articles to be stored away, there is provided a fabric jacket or casing 18 of the character best shown in Figures 1, 2 and 7. It will be observed that this fabric jacket 18 which is limp and inherently incapable in itself of being sustained in the form of a ,box is also provided with the end Wall panels 19 and side Wall panels 2t). ln addition to these end and side walls 1S) and 2O the jacket 18 is provided with a bottoni panel 21 and a top cover flap 22. I find it preferable in the construction of the jacket to form the side Wall panels 20, the bottom panel 21 and the cover panel 22 of one continuous length of cloth material. The fabric or cloth of which the jacket is formed is preferably nonextensible in character to prevent stretching thereof. As clearly appears in Figures 1 and 2 the upper edges of the end wall panels 18 are provided with extensions 23. A

To set up the chest for .use the folded structure of Figures si, and 6 is expanded into the shape shown in Figure 8 and so expanded is enveloped within the cloth jacket or casing 18, the latter' serving to maintain the foldable structure 1() in the shape of a box. lVhen the structure 10 and the jacket 18 are assembled in the relation shown in Figures 1, 2 and 7 they serve conjointly to form a substantially complete and self-sustained chest, although each of these parts is in itself inherently incapable of being sustained in box-like form. Secured to one edge of the extension 23 of the fabric end Wall panel is a strap or similar element 24 preferably in the form of a rubberized tape. The free end of this tape is provided with a suitable snap element for engagement with a cooperating elenient secured to the extension 25 of the opposite end wall panel 1t) of the jacket. Secured to the upper edge of the rear wall panel 2O of the jacket. are a pair of straps 25 each similar to the strap 21. The free ends of these straps 25 are equipped with snap elements for co-action with similar cle ments secured to the upper edge of the front wall panel 2U ot the jacket. These straps serve to retain the jacket 18 in closely fitting relation with respect to the structure 10 received therewithin.

ln order to obtain access to the interior olf the structure lO the straps 2land 25 are detached from their `fasteners thereby perniit ting the llaps 13 and 11 of the interior strncture l0 to be lifted. The cover flap 22 of the external jacket 18 reaches over the upper front edge of the unit and is provided with suitable snap fasteners or similar devices 26 for securing the free edge of the cover to the forward wall of the chest. As appears most clearly in Figure 2 the strap 21 is of sullicient width and so disposed that when the saine is fastened in the position shown it serves to cover the adjoining edges of the flaps 11 thereby ett'ectually precluding the passage of dust and the like between' said flap edges and into the interior of the chest.

ll'hcn it is desired to store the chest away, as when the saine is not in use, the structure l() is removed from its envelop and forni-retaining jacket 18 and is folded upon itself in the. torni shown in Figure l. The jacket may also be folded upon itself and the latter together with the folded structure 10 may be placed within an envelop 27 (see Figure 8). This envelop 2T together with its contents can then he stood against the wall of a closet or the like so as to occupy a veritable minimum of floor space. The collapsible chest as described hereinbefore is inexpensive to manufacture, is durable in use and has a number of other advantages readily apparent to the user thereof. lf desired, and it is preferable to do so, the structure l may bevtreated to render the same Waterproof and the interior thereof may be sprayed with cedar oil or the like to render the chest moth and insect proof.

It will be understood of course that the invention is susceptible of various changes and nioditications Without departing from the the real spirit or general principles of the same and it is accordingly intended to claim the invention broadly` as yvell as speeitically, as indicated by the appended claims.

YVhat is claimed as nev and useful is:-

l. ln a collapsible chest. in combination, a normally foldable structure inherently incapableotself-sustenanceintheshapeandadapted to be. expanded into the form of a box. .said structure having side and end Walls hingedly joined together an openable closure flaps swingably connected to the bottom edges of each ot' said walls` said structure being foldable into the form of a double-paneltal substantially flat unit each panel of which includes one side wall, one end wall and the closure flaps connected to said last-mentioned walls. and a relatively strong flexible jacket having side, end and bottom walls permaneatly secured together within which the expanded structure. is adapted to be received, said jacket walls being each substantially coextensive in size ivith the corresponding walls ot said expanded structure and together with said closure flaps being relatively so shaped and proportioned that the tension of the surrounding flexible jacket sustains the said ex panded structure in the form of a completed chest, the expanded structure being collapsible when removed from said jacket into the form of the said substantially flat unit Without necessitating the, individual collapse of any one or more of the side or end Walls thereof.

Q. In a collapsible chest, in combination, a normally foldable structure inherently incapable of self-sustenance in the shape and adapted to be expanded into the form of a box; said structure having side and end Walls hingedly joined together and an openable closure flap swingably connected to one bottom edge thereof to constitute, when swung into right angle position with respect to said ivalls of the structure, a bottom Wall element of the expanded structure, said structure being foldable into the form of av substantially' flat unit, and a relatively strong tiexible jacket having side, end and bottom Walls permanently secured together Within which the expanded structure is adapted to be received, said jacket walls being each substantially coextensive in size with the corresponding walls of said expanded structure and relatively so arranged that they eoact with said swingable bottom closure flap to sustain the said expanded structure in the form of a completed chest, the expanded structure being collapsible, when removed from said jacket, into the form of said substantially flat unit Without necessitating the individual collapse of any one or more of the side or end walls thereof.

YIl. ln a collapsible chestv` in combination. a normally foldable structure inherently incapableofself-sustenanceintheshapeand adapted to be expanded into the form of a box, said structure having rigid side and end walls hingedly joined together and openable closurey flaps swingably connected to the bottom edges oteach of said Walls. said structure being normally foldable into the form of av double paneled substantially flat unit each panel o l which includes one side wall` one end wall and the closure flaps connected to the edges of said last-mentiomd side and end walls, and a flexible jacket of relatively strong tensile qualities having side, end and bottom Walls permanently secured together within which .said structure is adapted to bel received, the said side and end 'alls of the structure and the said bottom closure flaps thereof being relatively so shaped and proportioned thatl independently of the top closure flaps of the structure` the tension ot' the surrounding fabric jacket sustains the said box-like structure in the form of a completed chest, the latter being non-collapsible when the top closure flaps thereof are swung into open position.

l. In a collapsible chest, in combination, a normally foldable structure inherently incapable of self-sustenance in the shape and adapted to be expanded into the form of a box, said structure being characterized in that the top and bottom edges of each side and end wall thereof are provided with hinged closure liaps which are each swingable into the plane of the particular Wall to which they are respectively hinged, and a normally limp relatively strong form-retaining casing for said structure having side, end and bottom -ivalls hingedly secured together,

and a limp top closure Hap operative merely to cover the top surface of the expanded structure` said hinged bottom closure flaps of the foldable structure being each so arranged and proportioned that when swung into planes at right angles to their respective Walls of the fold-able structure the said side, end and bottom Walls of the casing, independently of the top closure flap thereof, coact with the bottom closure flaps of said structure to form a self-sustained completed chest which is non-collapsible in character when the hinged top closure .flaps are swung into open position.

5. A collapsible chest composed of a normally foldable box-like structure formed of rigid material and being inherently incapable of self-sustenance in the shape of a box, said structure having side and end Walls to the, op-

iis

site upper and lower edges 'of which are ingedly secured a plurality of swingable closure flaps, the closure flaps secured to the lower edges of the end walls of said structure being so shaped and proportioned that, when swung into right angle position with respect to said-end walls, they maintain a right angle relation between said side and end walls of the structure, and a limp form-retaining ,o jacket for encasing said structure, the side, end and bottom walls of said jacket being formed of material of relatively strong tensile quality and of a character arranged to coact solely with the side and end walls of the structure and the swingable flaps secured to the lower edges thereof to sustain said encased foldable structure in the form of a completed box-like chest, the latter being noncollapsible in character even when the upper closure flaps thereof are'swung into open position.

6. In a collapsible chest, in combination, a normally foldable box-like structure inherently incapable of self-sustenance in the shape of a box and having hingedly joined side and end walls to each of the opposite upper and lower edges of which is swingably secured an openable closure flap, the swingable closure flaps at the lower edges 0f said structure being so proportioned and arranged that when swung into a common plane eX- tending at right angles to said structure walls they constitute the bottom wall of the said box-like structure, a flexible form-retaining jacket of relatively strong tensile character for encasing said structure having side, end and bottom walls permanently secured together and arranged to coact solely with the side and end walls of said structure and the swingable fiaps secured to the lower edges thereof to sustain said encased structure in the form of a non-collapsible box-like chest, said foldable structure being collapsible, when removed from said jacket, without necessitating the individual folding or collapse of any one or more of the side or end walls thereof, a plurality of straps for interconnecting the opposed up er edges of said jacket, and a topcover ap secured to one 5o edge of the jacket and arranged to overlie and conceal said straps and the upper surface of. said encased box-like structure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

HERMAN B. FERGUSON. 

